If you are planning a trip to Bali anytime soon, then one place you shouldn’t miss is UBUD! Known for culture, art, music, waterfalls and lush green forests, Ubud is an all round destination in Bali.
There is so much to do here, that even 4-5 days aren’t enough! In this blog, I will be sharing all the places I visited along with some bonus places, that you should visit if you have more days in your hands.
So lets get started!
Waterfalls
Bali is known for its waterfalls. From small to ginormous, you can find thousands of waterfalls in and around the Ubud region!
Tukad Cepung
Located 40 mins away from Ubud centre, the Tukad Cepung waterfall is famous for its unique landscape and thundering falls. After a 15-20 minute hike down some not so easy steps one reaches the base of the waterfall.
You’ll have to wade through waters to reach the main centre and the experience is truly enthralling.
The best time to visit this place is between 9 am to 10 am as you can witness a unique action – Sun rays beaming through the rocks creating a perfect ambience!
Entry fee – IDR 20000 or USD 1.30!
Kanto Lampo
Located 20 mins away from Ubud city centre, another famous and super Instagrammable falls you have to visit, is the Kanto Lampo waterfall. Unlike other waterfalls it is slightly easier to reach this one as the hike isn’t treacherous.
What sets this place apart from others is its unique cascade of water, which tumbles down a series of terraced limestone rock formations.
I would highly recommend reaching this falls around its opening time as its gets pretty crowded during the day. The base of the waterfall is a knee deep pool hence would recommend wearing your bathing suits if you wish to take a dip!
Entry fee – IDR 20000 or USD 1.30!
Tegenungan Waterfall
Another waterfall famous among all genres of travellers is the Tegenungan waterfall. Located 20 mins away from the Ubud centre, this is a popular tourist attraction.
A 10 minute hike down the well maintained stairs, the first glimpse of this falls will blow your mind away!
Entry fee – IDR 15000 or USD 1!
Leke Leke Waterfall
Now one waterfall that is definitely on my bucket list for Bali 2.0 is the Leke Leke Waterfall. Located an hour away from Ubud city centre, this is an offbeat destination.
Nestled in the midst of a true jungle, a 15 minute hike will take you to this breath taking waterfall. A gorgeous singular cascade hammers down between two cliff faces covered in moss, ferns and other flora, making it appear as though it’s the entrance to a hidden cave.
Entry fee – IDR 30000 or USD 2!
When it comes to waterfalls, Bali has lot more to offer than the above mentioned options. Other waterfalls you can check out are – Sekumpul Waterfall (known as the most beautiful waterfall in Bali), Nung Nung waterfall, Tibumana waterfall and more!
Temples and Palaces
There are beautiful temples and palaces in and around Ubud area. While the tourists are restricted to enter most temples, there are certain which you can visit. Listing some of my favorite palace/temples which you should definitely visit!
Ubud Palace
Also known as the Puri Saren Agung, the Ubud Palace was the official residence of the royal family of Ubud. Located in the Gianyar residency, this is a must visit for people who seek to learn more about the beautiful history of Bali.
Ubud Palace is an architectural marvel replete with beautiful and intricate carvings. Since it is still Royal’s residence, only the massive palace’s front section is open to travelers. Every evening at 7:30 PM, traditional Balinese Dance is performed at the Ubud Palace.
Ujung Water Palace
In my opinion this has to be one of the most beautiful place in Ubud. Located approximately an hour away from Ubud city centre, this place was created for peace and meditation. You can get a blissful view of the ocean and the mountains (Mount Agung) after reaching the view point at the top.
Adorned with lush green gardens, a beautiful pond, tall trees this place on the eastern side of the island gives you an insight into Bali’s history, culture and beauty.
Entry ticket: IDR 75,000 or USD 5
Tirtha Gangga
The one place you should not miss on your Bali trip, is visiting the famous Tirtha Gangga Palace. Despite how crowded this place gets its totally worth going.
A former royal palace, this place has beautiful ponds with huge Koi Fish. The palace also has tiered fountains, gardens and stone sculptures of mythical creatures.
The palace grounds also house a few eateries. Also for IDR 1000 you can buy fish food and feed the Koi Fish to get that perfect Insta picture.
Entry fee – IDR 50000 or USD 3.20
Besakih Temple
Besakih is probably that one temple I regret missing on my trip to Ubud. I would highly recommend checking this one out as it is one of the most beautiful temples in Bali. Located approx. one and a half our away from Ubud, this temple is located on the foot of Mount Agung and is considered as one of the most holiest temple in Bali.
The temple complex in itself comprises of multiple temples each symbolizing something unique.
The temple opens at 7 am in the morning and the best time to visit it is between 9 am to 11 am. The entrance fee to the temple is IDR 60,000 and you can also opt for additional activities like boat rides obviously at an extra cost.
Definitely not to miss!
Apart from the above renowned palaces and waterfalls, there is so much more to Ubud which you should definitely check out! Check out the elaborate list right below –
Monkey Forest
The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud’s town center is one of the most iconic attractions in Ubud. More than 1,200 long-tailed macaques inhabit a swath of jungle on the edge of town where lush moss and twisted vines wrap around 14th century temple remains. The wee hours of the day is the best time to visit this place. A word of caution, the macaques can be aggressive, especially if they think you have food.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
This serene trail is located on the edge of Ubud’s town centre. It can be reached on foot, and the hike takes approximately 30 minutes. The ridge offers lush valley views of rice fields, forest and palms. This is an offbeat place and I would highly recommend to go around sunset to enjoy a peaceful bliss!
Aloha Ubud Swing
This is one of those experiences which you shouldn’t pass on when in Bali. The Bali Swing is a crowd favorite and should definitely form part of your itinerary.
Though there are a bunch of swings to choose from, I would recommend checking out the Aloha Swing. Aloha is little pricey (IDR 8,50,000 which includes access to all swings, dress rental and professional photos) but its absolutely worth every penny. There are a bunch of photo spots so make sure you devote sufficient time to this activity.
For people who just want to check out the place they have to pay the basic entry fee of IDR 50,000.
Tegalang Rice Fields
Your Bali trip isn’t complete if you haven’t taken a walk in the famous rice fields. The Tegalang Rice Fields is one of the largest in the Ubud region (also a UNESCO World heritage) and offers absolute beautiful views.
You can get beautiful rolling views of the lush green fields from up top and can also hike down to the bottom. I would highly recommend checking out this place early in the morning as it can get crowded.
Cretya Club
Thanks to Instagram, this place has totally blew up and the hype is actually real! This day club has beautiful 3 layered infinity pools, cabanas, jacuzzies and is the perfect place to relax after a day full of exploration.
There is no minimum table value but you definitely have to pay an entry fee (ranges between IDR 100,000 to IDR 150,000). The place opens up at 8 am and is open until 9 pm. The food is good and at the same time pricey but the ambience is definitely a 10 on 10.
Check it out here – https://cretyaubud.com/
Ubud Market
Bali is definitely a shoppers paradise and the Ubud Market is the perfect place to score some beautiful clothes, accessories, home décor and what not. In my opinion this is the cheapest place to shop from the whole of Bali. Would highly recommend buying some cane bags and checking out the pharmacy stores for some unique skincare and haircare products!
Eat your heart out!
The food in Ubud is just outstanding! I would highly recommend checking out the many warungs and cafes in the main market. For café, I have one recommendation – Oops café. The menu is elaborate and offers both vegetarian and non vegetarian options. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the warung I ate at but before trying one would highly suggest checking the ratings on google.
Please note Bali belly is real so be mindful of what you eat!
Other recommendations!
Ubud is an amazing place to explore in Bali and trust me the amount of things you can do in and around Ubud is just crazy! In case you have more time in your hands, I would highly recommend checking out these places/activities….
a) Goa Gajah or Elephant Cave
b) Gates of Heaven Lempuyang temple
c) The Holy Spring water of Pura Tirta Empul
d) Go white water rafting
e) Mount Batur Hike (deliberately didn’t mention it above as the government has imposed certain restrictions. Please check before going)
f) More waterfalls!
g) Temple run experience feat quad biking for the adventure junkie
h) Night Safari in Bali
and much more….
Accommodation
Ubud has some of the best accommodations that you can find in Bali. From hostels to beautiful airbnbs to amazing hotels, there are endless options to choose from. My pro tip would be to always check out the reviews and choose accommodations near city centre.
From my stay in Ubud I choose the Budhi Abu Villas and Cottages by Mahapatra. It’s on the pricier side but I can’t recommend this hotel enough! You can see for yourself….
I hope you found the above blog useful and it helps you plan the perfect trip to Ubud, Bali.
As always, if you have any query or want to know more about my experience you can drop them in the comments section below. Also, don’t forget to check out the below blog – The Bali Starter Guide!
Well written. Lot to explore in Ubud.
Thank you so much 😁